Mail-box.



G. 0. KEAGY & J. R. CARMER.

` MAIL BOX.

. APPLICATION FILED APB.. 23, 1912. 1,096,724. Patented May 12, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. 0. KEAGY & J. R. CARMER.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23, 1912.

Patented May 12, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'Tuff m y www f w.. y

UNTED STA'E PAENT FEQE.

CHARLES O. KEAGY AND JAMES R. CARMER, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

MAIL-BOX.

inserat.

To all 107mm, t may concern.

Be it known that we, CHARLES O. KEAGY and JAMES R. Camina, citizens of the United States, residing at Wilmington, in the county of Newcastle and State of Delaware, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the :following is a specication.

This invention relates to a holder or letter box for mail matter, newspapers and other articles, and consist-s essentially of a support or backing having a gravitating front or holding member eoperating therewith and expansible relatively to the support or haelting when manually elevated to increase its capacity within. predetermined limits or in accordance with the dimensions of the device as a whole, the front or holding member having thereon a letter receiving receptacle wherein letter mail may be protectively deposited and freely movable with the said front or holding member during the operation of disposing newspapers, niagazines and other large parcels between the support or backing and the member. The invention further consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be more fully hereinafter dcscribed and claimed and constitutes an improvement on the holder or letter box disclosed by our application filed `April 17, 1911, Serial No. 621,614.

The purpose of the improvements is to provide a simple or effective holder or letter box for mail matter arranged to receive newspapers, magazines and other analogous parcels in one portion thereof and letters and like mail matter in another part of the same and to embody in one organization means which are readily accessible for deposit and removal of mail matter of different linds 1 in an expeditious and convenient matter and with special advantages to the owner of `the mail box or recipient of the mail matter disposed therein.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially brokenaway, of a holder or mail box embodying the features of the invention and illustrated and being fully closed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mail box partially broken away' and shown open and containing different kinds of mail matter, the letter receiving attachment or inclosure applied to the front member being illustrated in open position in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the box broken Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 23, 1912.

Patented May 12, 1.914.

serial No. 692,621.

away and illustrating a modification. Fig. 4l.- is a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line lL-h Fig. 3.

The numeral 5 designates a support which may be a wall, side of a house, post, or other structure, or said support may be constructed as a panel adapted to be secured to or hung on any other main supporting means. Fixed to the support 5 is a backing or rear side 6 of the holder or box, said backing being formed with side flanges 7 extending full length thereof and projecting below the lower edge of the backing to provide attaching means or eyes S. The backing G is preferably secured to the support 5 by fastening devices inserted through the same between the flanges 7, said fastening devices being shown in the present instance as screws 9, though other devices might be used if so desired. Movably connected to the backing or rear side 6 of the holder or box is a bottom section 10, sce F ig. 2, which is similar in ils construction to the said backing or rear side and has slde lflanges 11 which are projected at opposite ends as at 1Q and 13 for convenience in movably associating the said section with the lower ends of the flanges 7 and with the front holding member 1/-1 also formed with side flanges 15 projected at their lower ends as at 16 to provide means for attaching the similarly projected ends of the flanges 11 of the bottom section 10. The front side or main holding member 18 is also connected to the flanges 7 of the backing by links 17 which have their inner ends applied against the outer side flanges 7 j and their opposite outer ends applied against the inner sides of the flanges 15 of the front member 1S at a suitable distance from the upper end of the said front member. The front member 14; with its flanges 15 has a greater width than the backing or rear side 6 and folds over the latter and also over the links 17 and the side flanges 11 of the bottom section 10 when the latter is fullyr closed down. The front or holding member 111 is also formed with a plurality of openings 18, as shown by Fig. 1, to assist in applying the fastening devices 9 which are inserted through the backing 6 into the support 5. The front or main holding member 1 4; is restricted in its upward movement by the links 17 which have their outer ends attached to the flanges 15, the said links having their outer ends projected beyond the fulcrum points thereof and squared as at 19, sec Fig. V2, to contact with the inner surface of the said front or holding member adjacent to the points of intersection of the flanges 17 therewith.

Over the outer side of the front or holding member 1i a box or letter inclosing member 20 is applied and provided with side flanges 2l and a lower suitably curvedY extremity 22 which is hinged as at 23 to the lower edge of the said front or holding member 141, as shown by'Figs. 1 and 2; or as shown by 3 ande the said box or lctterinclosino member 20` may be hinged at the side as. at 2l, and in whichcase it will be providedavith an inwardly extending bottom fiange25. Theside fianges 21` in both forms of application ofVY the box or letter inclosing member 2O are extended-iik wardly asV protecting or sealing flanges 26 and formedv with longitudinal beads 2f? to fit corresponding grooves or seats 28 in the front or holding member 14, the beads and recesses providing` tight. joints at opposite sides of the coperating box or letter inclosing member 2O` and the front member 14 toprevent the letters ormail matter from slippingA through open crevices at the opposite sides of the front portion ofthe device and also to obstruct the entrance of water or moisture into the box formed on the front of the device. The front or mainl holding member 1er together with the box or mail inclosing member 2O constitutes a movable box adjustably held by the backing or supporting member 6, andV in the construction shown by Figs. 1 and 2 the main holding member 14 has an upper outwardly projecting guard flange 29 under which the Lipper open extremity of the box or mail inclosing member 20 is adapted to closely fit, the guard flange 29 Y having depending end flanges 80 to shield the upper side portions of the box or mail inclosing member'20 and particularly the flanges 21 thereof. On the outer sideV of the upper end ofthe box or inclo'sing member 2C) theusual form of mail n box lock 31 is applied and coperates with a striker 32 secured to the under side of the fiange 29,r and inthe side opening form of the box .or inclyosing member 20 as shown by Fig. 3 a similar lock 33 isA secured thereto adjacent to the side opposite that which is hinged and cooperates with a striker 341CV projecting, from one of the side. flanges 15, the latter flange being extended outwardly a greater distance, as' shown by Fig. 4, as at 15a, to provide a shield or guard for the adjacent side flangel 21 of the box or inclosing `member 2O and to place the striker 34 in proper position relatively to the lock 33. To limit the outward movement ofthe box or letter inclosing member 20, links 35 are shown by Figs. 1 and 2, the Vsaid links being pivoted at their lower ends to the flanges 2 1 and at their upper ends formed with slots varie'd and in some instances the use thereof ,may be. unnecessary, the only object in a p plying the links 35 or other limiting devices being to prevent. the box or mail inclosing member 2O from falling completely over,

which would be unnecessary to' gain access to the mail matter or letters held between the said member 20 and the member 14.

In the modified structure shown by Figs. 3 and #l the same flanges 26 having the beads 27 engaging the grooves 28 are employed at the opposite sides ofthe box or mail 'inclosing member 20, and in additio-n the bottom or lower end 'of the box or mail inelosing member as shown by Figs. 3 and 11 has an upwardlyprojecting flange 38 with a bead and corresponding groove, as indicatedvby Figs. 3 and 4, as at 3 9 and 40.

ln the operation of the device or when it is desired to dispose newspapers, magazines and other parcels between the main holding member 141- and thebaclring 6, the said hold ingl member isy elevated. by lpressing'rk upwardly on the lower end thereof, the upward movement ofi the holding member being proportionate. to the thickness of-'the newspapers, magazines or other .parcels adapted. to be inserted in the box and` to render such operation easy without friction in a predetermined"capacity. After newspapers, magazines or other parcels have been disposed in the device between the the said member will be released andfal.- lowed. to gravitatepthereby setting up, a binding action on. the papers, magazinesv or parcels, and as theV saidf mainv holding member has considerable weight, particularlyin view ofthe application Vthereto'of the box or mail inclosing member 20, the papers, magazines or other parcels will be positively and reliably retained or clamped between the member le and backing, @and be prevented from falling through the bottom of the device 'bythe then projected bottom section 10 whichregularlymoves outwardly in proportion to the elevation of the said member 14. Letters or analogous mail matter may be inserted into thel front portion of the device or between 'the member 14 and the box or mail inclosing member l20 through a customary form of drop slotflll which may or may not be covered bythe usual drop shield. When itis desired to remove the mail matter from the ldevice the main member 14 with the box or inclosing membere20 is pushed upwardly to relieve pressure on orrelax the clamping weight on the papers, magazines or other parcels bekmain holdingmember 14 and the backingy 6 tween the member 14 and backing 6 and the be readily withdrawn from the top of the device and the member 14 with its member 20 permitted to gravitate. The box or inclosing member 20 may, at any time, be released and opened to permit access to the letters deposited between the same and the holding` member or in the box itself on the front of the device and afterward closed and locked. When the main holding member Ll. together with the box or mail inclosing member 2O is fully closed or is gravitated and the bottom section 10 has moved baelzwardly, and unobstructed opening through the entire length of the rear portion of the device is provided and any moisture or dust that may enter the box will pass downwardly through the same, thus keeping the interior of the box in dry and clean condition.

It will be understood that the proportions, dimensions and minor details of the improved device may be varied at will .within the scope of the claims, and, furthermore, it is proposed to use the same for any purpose to which it may be applicable.

What is claimed is:

l. In a device of the class set forth, a support, a gravitating box-like holding member attached to the support and automatically projected from the latter when elevated, the said member being provided with a front side which is closed to such an extent as to prevent mail matter passing therethrough, and a letter inclosing body with angular side and end members, an outer closed side, and a back which is normally fully open, the inclosing body being hinged to the outer or front side of the holding member and closed at the rear by the said member, the letter inclosing body being also provided with inwardly extending sealing flanges which hear flat against the outer side of the holding member and movable with the said body in the opening and closing movements of the latter.

ln a device of the class set forth, a holding member for papers, magazines and parcels, and a letter inclosing member on the outer side of the holding member and provided with inwardly extending sealing flanges which hear [lat against the outer side of the holding member.

3. In a device of the class set forth, a holding member for papers, magazines and parcels having grooves formed in its outer side, and a letter inclosing member on the outer side of the holding member and provided with inwardly extending sealing flanges formed with beads to engage said grooves.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES O. KEAGY. JAMES R. CARMER. \Vitnesses LAWRENCE P. MEYER, HARRY O. FETTINGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

